Acupuncture and gynaecology-obstetrics

Acupuncture is more and more integrated in hospitals obstetrics department. Indeed, acupuncture is particularly useful in treating pregnant women since their consumption of drugs is often reduced. Acupuncture is simple, safe (it has very few sides effects) and impressively efficient. I have completed a clinical rotation at Lasalle Hospital during which I acquired the necessary skills to: do pregnancy monitoring treatments, provide in-labour assistance and post-partum treatments.

Acupuncture treatments indicated during pregnancy are the following:

Before pregnancy

Acupuncture permits to:

Treat infertility by:

- Treating amenorrhea
- Stimulating ovulation
- Reducing male subfertility
   increasing sperm quality)

Facilitate in-vitro fecundation (increased by 16%) by:

- Increasing blood flow to uterus

During pregnancy

Acupuncture is efficient in the treatment of:

- Nausea and vomiting
- Lumbago, sciatalgy and pain of the lower abdomen
- General symptoms such as insomnia, headaches, migraines,    arterial hypertension, urinary and vaginal infections and    digestive disorders
- Oedema and circulation disorders
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Preterm delivery risk
- Breech presentation (75% of versions)

To prepare labour

Acupuncture is useful to:

- Relax and prepare perineum
- Encourage cervical dilatation
- Stimulate uterine contractions
- Provoke labour
- Reduce stress

During labour

Acupuncture permits to:

- Encourage uterine cervix dilatation
- Trigger baby descent
- Assure efficient uterine contractions
- Reduce epidural and ocytocin use
- Calm the patient
- Treat lumbar pain
- Reduce risk of tearing
- Treat foetal heart decelerations
- Reduce total length of labour by 4 to 6 hours
- Treat placentary retention

Post-partum

Acupuncture permits to:

- Facilitate healing
- Treat hemorrhoids and urinary retention
- Reduce pain due to uterine colic
- Treat mastitis and lactation disorders
- Reduce fatigue
- Treat “baby-blues” depression

How often should I be treated?

For a normal pregnancy, treatments follow every visit to the physician, so one per month for eight months and then one per week to prepare for labour. The frequency of treatments can be increased to treat specific symptoms and meet specific needs.

Does acupuncture represent a danger for my baby?

Acupuncture is not a danger for the baby, on the contrary. A specific protocol gear towards treating pregnant women; some points are forbidden and we also reduce the number of needles used. Acupuncture does not have known side effects apart from causing occasional bruises.